Game apparatus



Patented Nov. 1, I898. A. E. MORGAN.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 18, 1697.)

No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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N0. 6l3,383. Patented NOV. I, I898.

A. E. MORGAN. GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 18, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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' MNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNE E. MORGAN, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS.

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,383, dated. November I, 1898 Application filed February 18, 1897. Serial No. 623,940. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANNE E. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wellesley, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Game Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My improvement in game apparatus is particularly designed to serve in a game of my own invention, which I have named the Bellecycle. The purpose of this game is to oppose and overcome that nervous contraction which induces delay in physical circulation, muscular inefficiency, loss of courage, and hence loss of enthusiasm in recreation. This nervous contraction is overcome by, in the first place, an arrangement of apparatus which presents to the eye such combinations and sequences of color as at the same time shall be most restful and stimu-- lating to the optic nerve; second, by such a sequence of motions as shall best vary the skill and muscular exertion of the individual, and, third, by alternating the phases of aim required by the person engaged in the game. In accomplishing these results I have devised the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my target. Fig. 2 is a view of a nest of the rings designed to be thrown at this target. Fig. 3 is an elevation of an improved form of my target. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the same packed for storage or transportation, and Fig. 5 is a view of a detail thereof.

Referring to the drawings, A is a field adapted by means of a cord and pulley or other means to be hung at varying heights hpon a wall, tree, or other object. This field is either rectangular, as shown in Fig. 1, or circular in outline, as shown in Fig. 3. The latter is, however, the shape which I prefer for reasons set forth later on. The chief function of the field A- is that of a support for the rod 0, upon whose outer extremity is fastened the semicircular target-head B. To

the under side of this target-head is suspended a ring d, and to the under periphery of said ring is attachedone end of the netting E, the other end of which is made fast to the field larger than the largest of the nest of rings D,

as the larger rings are used.

further, to cause the same rings to be thrown through the ring d with increasing difficulty In this way I accomplish a variation in the sequence of skill and muscular exertion with the different rings. The ring which is the smallest, and can hence be thrown with the least muscular effort, will be the hardest to pass over the target-head, but the easiest-to pass through the ring d. I On the other hand, the ring D, which is the largest, and consequently heaviest, will be the easiest to throw over said head and the most difficult to pass through the ring (1.

The object of the netting E is to receive the rings D which have been thrown through the ring 01 and hold them to the end of each round of the game. They can be then removed and the game value of each and the total number of them jotted down by the tally-keeper. This separation and preservation of the rings until they can be counted is a great saving of time and care and is also, I find, a means for diminishing the tension upon the nerves of the person playing. To successfully pass a ring through the ring d and causeit to sink restfully upon the netting is a much more restful feature than if every ring had to go tumbling to the ground. In this respect the netting serves the same purpose as does the rod 0, supporting the targethead B. Every ring successfully passed over the target-head comes to rest, of course, upon the rod 0 and is held thereby from falling to the ground.

In Fig. l the netting E is shown as attached to the ring at and to the field A by means of hooks d and e, which permit of the disconnection of said netting from the ring and field. Such fastenin gs may, however, be permanent in character, closed eyelets taking the place of hooks, as indicated in Fig. 3. In Fig. 1 is further shown an attachment for securing the ring 01 to the target-head B difiering somewhat from that in Fig. 3. In the former I represent two sets of hooks and eyes ICO b d, by which said ring is attachable to the said head at two points. My preferable construction is that of Figs. 3 and 5. Here the ring itself engages a single large hook I) and is retained therein against the impact of the thrown rings by means of the leaf-spring b, which can be easily raised when it is wished to remove the ring therefrom.

My method of vertically adjusting the field A, and therefore the height of the target, comprises simply the cord a, pulley and supporting-nail a T, and a cleat a By this convenient arrangement the height of the target is adjusted to bring either the targethead B or the ring 01, according to which is being used at that moment, with their centers upon the level of the players eye. Furthermore, as the game progresses the target is moved to a higher and higher elevation, each time increasing the difiiculty of lodging the rings upon the rod and netting. A further improvement, which I have embodied in the construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, is in the means for enabling the entire game apparatus to be packed into a small compass. The field A being circular and of slightly-greater diameter than the ring d, which is, it will be remembered, somewhat larger than the largest of the rings D, they all can be placed one within the other upon said field and retained in place by the raised rim A, fastened upon the periphery of said field. This rim I prefer to form, for the sake of lightness and strength, from interwoven strands of reed or similar material. The rod 0, which is secured to the field A by means of a screw 0, can be unfastened and it and the target-head laid upon the field and the rings. The netting E is then brought over the said parts and fastened to the back of the field, thereby making the whole secure.

In using this game apparatus the target is first suspended at a height which shall bring the center of the target-ring substantially opposite the eyes of the player. The player stands at a distance from the target equal to his stature plus the length of the cues with which he throws the rings. The first play aims to pass the entire series of rings one by one, from the smallest to the largest in sequence, through the target-rings into the netting or pocket E. In case of entire success the player passes to the second test without competition. For this second play the targetring is detached from the target-head and turned down against the wall or suspended from the rod 0 back against the field A. The player now aims to pass the entire series of rings in reverse order over the target-head, beginning with the largest. In the first instance the largest ring tallies the largest number of game-credits or score, while in the second step the smallest ring scores the highest. In this way, as previously described, the sequence of skill and muscular exertion is continually varied and the tension upon the nerves of the player changed accordingly until a nerve relaxation comes to take the place of thcharmfulnerve tension. Another pleasing and restful feature consists in coloring the rings D differently one from the other-for instance, more or less of the primary or prismatic colors can be used, as indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red for the six rings shown in Fig. 2. Of course these colors cannot be shown in the drawings, and I do not attempt to indicate them, but simply refer to the same as one of the features of the game in which I use my apparatus. By thus varying the sizes of the rings and alternating the gradations of skill and muscular effort required in throwing the same and also adjusting the heights to which the rings are thrown the very best possible effects are secured in the physical, mental, and nervous development of the individuals playing the game em ploying my apparatus.

IVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows, to wit:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination. with a series of rings graduated in diameters, of the target-head made semicircular in form and slightly less in diameter than the smallest of said rings, the horizontal rod supporting said target-head, and the field holding said rod and provided with means for its own suspension, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of the field,- A, having means for its vertical adjustment, the rod, 0, projecting therefrom, and the semicircular target-head carried by said rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of the supporting-rod, G, the target-head, B, and the ring, d, suspended from the said target-head, for the purpose set forth.

4.. In a game apparatus, the combination of the field, A, the rod, 0, the target-head, B, the ring, d, suspended from said target-head, and the netting, E, attached to said ring and to said field, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a game apparatus, the combination of the target-head, B, the ring suspended therefrom, and the series of graduated throwing-rings, the largest of which is smaller than said ring, d, and the smallest of which is larger than said target-head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a game apparatus, the combination of the semicircular target-head, B, the hook, Z), having retaining-spring, b, and the ring, (1, adapted to be removably suspended from said target-head by means of said hook, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a game apparatus, the combination of the field, A, the cord, a, pulley, a the rod, 0, and the target-head, B, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a game apparatus, the combination of the circular field, A, having raised rim, A,

the series of rings, D, and the ring, 01, all E, attached to said ring, and to said field, subadapted to be nested between said rim, the stantially as and for the purpose set forth. removable target-head and rod, B, O, and the In testimony that I claim the foregoing innetting, E, adapted to inolose said parts in vention I have hereunto set my hand and seal 5 one compact bundle, as and for the purpose this 23d day of January, in the year 1897. '15

set forth.

9. In a game apparatus, the combination ANNE MORGAN of the adjustable field, A, the rod, 0, target Witnesses: head, B, having hook, I), the ring, (1, adapted EVA M. DENISON, Is to be suspended by said hook, and the netting, A. B. UPHAMi 

